Petition for Redress of Grievances

IT IS A CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHT of the people to “petition the Government for a redress of grievances.”

We are exercising that right of petition because we are angered and frightened by the lawlessness of the President and the Executive branch of our Government. We submit that they have defied the Congressional repeal of the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution; defied the Military Authorization Procurement Act which insists that the war be ended as quickly as possible; defied accepted international law against aggressive war, blockade and mining, population removal, and indiscriminate bombing, and created a Constitutional crisis in the United States.

They have spent the taxes, emotions, and resources of the people on mass murder and destruction as American society and its public services decay. They have brought unrest to our cities and institutions, defiled the flag with American and Indochinese blood, and brought shame upon our country.

We petition the Congress to reaffirm that we are citizens and not hostages to usurpers of power and authority.

We petition the Congress to exercise its Constitutional authority of control over the armed forces by voting an immediate cessation of all air, ground, and naval operations in Indochina, and by ending all military and economic appropriations for a war the Congress did not vote for and the American people do not want.

This petition was presented by the signers to the Speaker of the House of Representatives on May 24. After the petition was received by the Speaker, ninety-four of the signers were arrested for “unlawful assembly” and taken to jail. This petition can be cut out and sent to congressmen. Readers who want to continue the work of directly petitioning Congress should contact REDRESS, 1322 18th Street, NW, Washington, DC 20036, or telephone (202) 785-3111.